Head-to-shaft connection for golf club

ABSTRACT

A head-to-shaft connection for a golf club wherein the end of the golf club shaft is inserted in the bore in the club head hosel and initially positioned therein by means of radial spacer elements, the shaft being secured in the bore by suitable cementitious means. After the cementing means sets, it also holds the club shaft in the desired position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James E. Ballmer Cincinnati, Ohio 21 Appl. No. 749,675 [22] Filed Aug. 2, 1968 [45] Patented Dec.7, 1971 [73] Assignee Brunswick Corporation [54] I-IEAD-TO-SIIAF'I CONNECTION FOR GOLF CLUB 6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1 273/805, 273/808 511 Int.Cl. A631) 53/02 [50] Field oiSearch 273/77, 80,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,444,842 2/1923 Lagerblade 273/80.5 1906239 5/1933 Reach 273/804 1,916,963 7/1933 Buhrke et al. 273/806 1,639,547 8/1927 Barnhart 273/77 1,652,594 12/1927 Walker 273/803 1,895,417 1/1933 Lard 273/804 10/1934 11/1934 3/1935 6/1938 9/1938 11/1968 Reuter,.|r

FOREIGN PATENTS 3/1927 Great Britain 10/ 1927 Great Britain 1/1933 Great Britain 3/1933 Great Britain... 6/1934 Great Britain Buhrke et al.

Primary Examiner Richard C. Pinkham Assislan! Examiner-Richard .I. Apley Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord PATENTED DEC 7 197i SHEET 2 OF 2 FIGIO HEAD-TO-SHAFT CONNECTION FOR GOLF CLUB BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This application relates to athletic implements and more particularly to a novel head-to-shaft connection for a golf club.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, in the manufacture and assembly of golf clubs the distal end of a club shaft and the bore in a club head in which the shaft end was to be received were both tapered. This type of construction has given rise to problems in the accuracy of the fit necessary between the shaft and the bore, problems in forming the gripping end at the opposite end of the shaft, and the necessity for stocking several different shafts for different club heads. In general, the tapered end of the shaft would be inserted into the bore in the club head and properly aligned therein by reason of the close tolerances. Because of the shaft taper tolerances and hosel taper tolerances, the shaft position could vary by as much as threequarters of an inch in the case of irons, and 1 inch in the case of woods. Following the assembly, the opposite end, wherein the grip is fonned, would be cut to make the shaft the proper length for the given club, because of the different positions of axial insertion of the shaft in different heads. As a result, each club shaft gripping surface over which the handle grip was to be formed would be of different length and configuration. Therefore, problems have arisen in attempting to provide one common shaft which can be utilized for making irons and another common shaft which can be utilized for making woods to thereby minimize the variety of different shafts which must be provided for the several clubs.

In addition, it is necessary to weigh the club heads to provide a proper swing weight." This is provided in woods by boring a cavity in the soleplate of the wood club head and then inserting a weighted filler in the form of a lead slug or a molten lead. In irons, the club heads are made to known weights but there have been variations in the shaft and the gripper weight due to the lack of uniformity of the length of insertion of the shaft into the club heads. Thus, some sort of weight must be added to the tip of the shaft during the assembly thereof to provide uniformity of club weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of a head-to-shaft connection for a golf club wherein the shaft end and hosel bore are aligned during assembly by means of separate spacer elements with bonding or cementing means filling the space between the hosel bore and the shaft. The axial insertion of the shaft into the hosel may be limited by the bottom of the hosel bore. By this arrangement, adjustment for length of different shafts may be made by cutting ofi' portions of the distal end of the shaft leaving the gripping end of a constant axial length. This permits the use of a single shaft for all irons and a single shaft for all woods. In one embodiment, these advantages are obtained by forming the shaft with a straight end instead of a taper and forming a straight hosel bore in the head rather than a taper bore. A plug of desired weight may be connected to the end of a shaft for providing the desired swing weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a golf club of the iron type embodying the head-to-shaft connection of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view partially in section, of the lower end of the golf club shown in FIG. 1 showing one form of the head-to-shaft connection of this invention in greater detail;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a modified form of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a broken elevational view of a golf club of the wood type embodying the head-to-shaft connection of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged section view of the lower end of a golf club of the wood type showing the head-to-shaft connection of this invention in use therewith;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of the head-to-shaft connection of this invention wherein the shaft end and hosel bore are both tapered;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of the head-to-shaft connection of this invention utilized to build in an open or closed club head orientation relative to the shaft;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section view of a modified form of the means for centering the shaft at the top of the hosel;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another form of centering the shaft at the top of the hosel;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of centering the shaft at the top of the hosel;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of centering the shaft at the bottom of the hosel;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of centering the shaft at the bottom of the hosel; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section view showing still another modified form of centering the shafts at the bottom of the hosel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The golf club 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings is that type commonly referred to an iron. The club includes a generally round shaft 12 attached to the club head 14 which is the portion of the club utilized for striking a golf ball during play. The shaft includes a handle or grip portion 15, a shank portion 16 intermediate the ends of the shaft, and an end or tip portion 18 which is connected with the hosel 20 of the club head 14. End portion 18 is preferably of a generally constant diameter and the length of the shaft is preferably longer than necessary for any club with which the shaft is to be used. Adjustments for proper length may be made by cutting the end portion 18 as described in my copending US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 749,681, filed Aug. 2, 1968, entitled GOLF CLUB SHAF'IS.

I-Iosel 20 extends upwardly from head 14 and is provided with a shaft-receiving opening or bore 22 of generally constant diameter throughout most of its length. This bore is larger than the outer periphery of the end 18 of shaft 12 and includes a countersunk or first stepped portion 24 at the free end 25 of the hosel.

A bushing or ferrule 26, having an inner bore 28 which snugly mates with the outer periphery of the end portion 18 of the shaft 12, is telescoped over the shaft. The ferrule has a reduced end portion 30 which snugly mates with the countersunk portion 24 at the top of the bore 22. Ferrule 26 has a small recess 31 at the juncture of reduced portion 30 for receiving bonding material. The ferrule is formed to accurate dimensions, such as by molding the ferrule from plastic material, so that it may center the shaft 12 coaxially relative to the bore 22. A plug 32, which may be weighted, may be inserted in the opening of end 18 to center the shaft relative to bore 22 and to provide the desired swing weighting for the club. A cementing or bonding substance 34 is applied in the space between the shaft tip 18 and the bore 22 for securing the shaft 12 to the head 14. If desired, a pin could be inserted through the shaft and hosel.

Plug 32 is preferably formed so that its first or reduced portion 38 snugly mates with the inner diameter 40 of shaft 12 and its second or enlarged portion 42 snugly mates with the hosel bore 22. This further serves to coaxially align or center shaft 12 relative to bore 22 upon assembly of the shaft to the club head.

FIG. 2A is a modified form of the structure shown in FIG. 2. The hosel 20 has a reduced portion 41 at the lower end of bore 22, forming a shoulder 410 against which tip 18 of shaft 12 abuts. The enlarged portion 42a of plug 32 is intended to be snugly received in reduced bore portion 41.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the club 12 is that type commonly referred to as a wood. The club includes the same type of shaft 12, and similar reference numerals have been used to indicate identical portions of the shaft. Club head 44 has an upwardly extending hosel portion 46 which is provided with a shaft-receiving opening or bore 48 of generally constant diameter throughout most of its length. This bore is also larger than the outer periphery of the end 18 of shaft 12 providing a space 49 for receiving bonding material. The free end of the hosel may have a reduced outer diameter 50 providing a shoulder 52 and a second reduced diameter portion 54 providing a second shoulder 56.

Ferrule, bushing or centering means 58 has a generally constant diameter bore 60 generally of a size and shape to snugly embrace the portion 18 of the shaft and a generally frustoconical bore portion 62 which mates with the tapered reduced portion 50 of the hosel. The ringlike end 64 of ferrule 58 abuts the shoulder 52 to limit the insertion of the hosel portion into the frustoconical bore portion 62. Suitable adhesive means 66 is provided in the space between the reduced diameter portion 54 and the transitional area 68 between the straight bore portion 60 and the frustoconical bore portion 62 of the ferrule 58.

While the bore in the hosel of the wood club head may terminate in a shoulder structure similar to that shown in FIG. 2, preferably the bore is formed as shown in FIG. 4 where the bore opens through the bottom of the club head. The desired weighted plug 70 is positioned in the free end of the tip 18 of the club shaft, and bonding cement 34 is applied in the space between the tip 18 and the bore 48 as well as between the bottom of plug 70 and the baseplate 72.

FIGS. 7-9 show modified forms of centering the end 18 of the shaft in the hosel bore by means other than the ferrule arrangement disclosed with respect to FIGS. 2 and 4. For example, in FIG. 7, the end 18 of the shaft could be centered in bore 22 by means of radially inwardly projecting shoulders 74 which could be machined to close tolerances.

In FIG. 8, radially outwardly extending projections 76 are formed on the shaft end 18 to center the same with respect to the bore 22.

As shown in FIG. 9, the end 18 of the shaft is centered in the bore 22 by means of a separate annular spacer ring 78.

FIGS. -12 show alternate means for centering the shaft end 18 in the bottom of the hosel bore. For example, in FIG. 10, the bottom of the hosel bore is provided with a stepped shoulder 80 on which the shaft end tip 18 abuts, with the adjacent sidewall 82 formed to close tolerances with the outer diameter of the end 18 to center the same with respect to the hosel bore 22 so that the club shaft is coaxial with the hosel bore.

As shown in FIG. 11, shaft end 18 is provided with radial enlargements 84 formed to a close tolerance with the hosel bore 22 so as to center the lower end of the shaft with respect to the lower end of the hosel bore.

As shown in FIG. 12, a spacer such as 78 referred to in FIG. 9 could also be provided at the lower end of the hosel bore 22 for centering the shaft end 18.

In FIG. 5, both the hosel bore 92 and the tip 94 of the golf club shaft are tapered. The taper of the hosel bore is shown as 6 being at a wider angle than that of the golf club shaft though the two could be formed with the same taper. The shaft is oriented with respect to the hosel bore by means of a ferrule element 96. The shaft tip 94 and hosel bore 92 are fitted to cause centering of the shaft tip 94 and the hosel bore 92. The shaft 94 is plugged at the end with plug 98 to prevent bonding material from entering into the interior of the shaft.

In FIG. 6, shaft 12 is shown angularly oriented relative to the hosel 20. In the illustrated embodiment both the tip 18 of the shaft and the bore 22 of the hosel are of generally circular cylindrical configuration. However, in this embodiment, the spacer elements or ferrule means 102 are provided with offset or eccentric openings. By orienting the spacer elements so that the openings 104 are out of registration with each other, the shaft 12 will be angularly disposed with respect to the hosel 20. Again, suitable cementing or bonding means may be introduced in the space 106 between the shaft tip and the hosel bore to hold the elements in the desired orientation during assembly. It has been found that this type of assembly of the elements is most suitable for building in a club head-toshaft relationship wherein the head will be closed or open relative to the shaft to suit the needs of the individual golfer.

The connection of this invention eliminates the need for stocking several different club shafts for different golf clubs. All adjustments in the length of the club shaft can be made by cutting off the distal end of the shaft prior to final assembly of shaft and club head. Assembly of the shaft and club head is no longer dependent upon the close relationship of the shaft and to the club head hosel. Instead, suitable spacer elements or ferrule means are interposed between the shaft tip and the hosel bore to orient the shaft as desired with respect to the club head, following which a bonding substance is interposed in the space between the shaft and bore. Once the bonding substance cures, it positively holds the components in the desired relationship. Thus, relative length of the shaft for each club head may be determined by cutting a portion from only the head end of the shaft, and the limit of the insertion of the shaft into the hosel bore may be determined by abutment of the shaft with the bottom of the bore and not by the facial engagement between the tapered sidewalls of the bore and the tapered end of the shaft.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. A golf club head-to-shaft connection comprising;

a golf club head including an upstanding hosel having a bore therein substantially larger than the head end of the shaft, said hosel bore having an open end and a closed end, said open end having a stepped configuration,

a golf club shaft having a handle end portion and a head end portion, said head end portion being untapered and inserted in said hosel bore,

means for positioning the untapered head end portion of the shaft within the hosel bore with the exterior of the shaft set apart from the wall of the bore, said positioning means including first means located at said closed end and separate from said hosel for axially positioning the lower extremity of the shaft at the base of the hosel bore and apart from the walls of the hosel bore, and second means separate from said hosel for axially positioning the shaft at the said open end of the hosel bore, said second means fitting tightly about said shaft head end, said second means having a correspondingly stepped configuration as said open end for placement thereon, with said secondmeans step being substantially wider than said open-end step thereby positioning said shaft away from the walls of the hosel bore and bonding material disposed and filling the void between the head end portion of said shaft and the wall of the hosel bore so as to bond the entire outer surface of that portion of the shaft within the bore directly to the wall of the hosel bore.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said shaft is hollow, and further including means to plug the open end of said hollow shaft, and wherein said plugging means comprises said first means for axially positioning the lower extremity of the shaft at the base of the hosel bore and apart from the wall thereof.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the head end portion of said shaft is substantially cylindrical in shape.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said closed end of the bore includes a shoulder, receiving thereon a portion of the distal end of the shaft, limiting the penetration of the shaft into the hosel bore, said shoulder being comprised of an annularly reduced area of the bore.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the hosel bore is reduced in diameter below the shoulder, and wherein said means for an annular portion extending radially therefrom to a position adjacent to but sufiiciently separate from the wall of the hosel bore to permit said bonding material to pass therebetween when the shaft and plug are inserted into the hosel. 

1. A golf club head-to-shaft connection comprising; a golf club head including an upstanding hosel having a bore therein substantially larger than the head end of the shaft, said hosel bore having an open end and a closed end, said open end having a stepped configuration, a golf club shaft having a handle end portion and a head end portion, said head end portion being untapered and inserted in said hosel bore, means for positioning the untapered head end portion of the shaft within the hosel bore with thE exterior of the shaft set apart from the wall of the bore, said positioning means including first means located at said closed end and separate from said hosel for axially positioning the lower extremity of the shaft at the base of the hosel bore and apart from the walls of the hosel bore, and second means separate from said hosel for axially positioning the shaft at the said open end of the hosel bore, said second means fitting tightly about said shaft head end, said second means having a correspondingly stepped configuration as said open end for placement thereon, with said second-means step being substantially wider than said open-end step thereby positioning said shaft away from the walls of the hosel bore and bonding material disposed and filling the void between the head end portion of said shaft and the wall of the hosel bore so as to bond the entire outer surface of that portion of the shaft within the bore directly to the wall of the hosel bore.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said shaft is hollow, and further including means to plug the open end of said hollow shaft, and wherein said plugging means comprises said first means for axially positioning the lower extremity of the shaft at the base of the hosel bore and apart from the wall thereof.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the head end portion of said shaft is substantially cylindrical in shape.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said closed end of the bore includes a shoulder, receiving thereon a portion of the distal end of the shaft, limiting the penetration of the shaft into the hosel bore, said shoulder being comprised of an annularly reduced area of the bore.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the hosel bore is reduced in diameter below the shoulder, and wherein said means for axially positioning the bottom end of the shaft within and apart from the walls of the hosel bore comprises a plug having an upper portion embedded within the end of the shaft and a lower portion snugly received in the reduced area of the hosel bore below the shoulder.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said plug further includes an annular portion extending radially therefrom to a position adjacent to but sufficiently separate from the wall of the hosel bore to permit said bonding material to pass therebetween when the shaft and plug are inserted into the hosel. 